Volume One: The Celestial Palace Amidst the Clouds Chapter Fifty: Lament

Chapter Fifty: Tragedy

The battle had ended. Zang Sheng lay motionless upon the Ascension Platform, his body drenched in blood. Half of him was charred black, one arm shattered beyond repair. Zhou Hao, too, had collapsed from overexertion of his immortal power. A long crimson stain marred the pristine white of his Daoist robes. Neither could stand, but Zhou Hao’s wounds were far lighter than Zang Sheng's.

In the instant Zhou Hao fell, a scarlet figure streaked to his side. Tears shimmered in her eyes as she cradled his body and flew away. No one reproached her—there was no need, for the contest was over.

Soon, two disciples from the Beast Soul Hall arrived and carried Zang Sheng away. The Sixteenth Hall Master declared, “Both sides are unable to continue, so the battle is concluded. Judging by the severity of their injuries, Zhou Hao is the victor!”

Cheers erupted from the Cloud Veil Hall, while gloom settled over the Beast Soul Hall.

Yet, the tournament was not finished. Su Qing and Arrow Maple, Cai Lingzi and Xin Nan were still locked in combat. Zhou Hao and Zang Sheng’s duel had been swift by comparison.

Whizz! Whizz! Whizz!

Three arrows shot forth, their metallic gleam cold and sharp, whistling through the air toward Su Qing. She sprang lightly from her right foot, her silver immortal sword slicing a blazing arc of light that snapped all three arrows in half with a hiss.

Soaring in midair, Su Qing extended her left hand. Five-colored light burst from her palm, and in the next instant, a colossal handprint appeared overhead, pressing down upon Arrow Maple. Each finger shone a different hue, slender and graceful as a maiden’s hand—despite the varied colors, there was an undeniable beauty to it.

Yet, that beautiful handprint made Arrow Maple tremble. He, who had always been cold and unfeeling, now felt fear.

Whizz!

Drawing his bow to its fullest, Arrow Maple refused to await death. His hands shook as he nocked another arrow—this one terrifyingly powerful, infused with the energies of the Immortal Domain. All present sensed its explosive might.

The five-colored hand cast a dazzling, oppressive brilliance that pinned Arrow Maple in place; even moving a single step was a struggle, gravity multiplying by leaps and bounds. But even that could not prevent him from shooting. With a roar like wind and thunder, an arrow trailing violet lightning shot toward the handprint in the sky.

Boom!

The heavens boiled, lights of every color bursting forth and falling like the most beautiful fireworks. A deafening explosion forced all to cover their ears. For a fleeting moment, everyone witnessed the struggle between the five-colored hand and the arrow, but in the end, the hand ground the arrow to dust.

“Ah!”

Unsurprisingly, Arrow Maple was pinned beneath the hand, unable to withstand such an attack—even a master like him was helpless.

The watching disciples cried out in awe, declaring, "Amazing! My goddess!"

"Incredible! Is this... the legendary Five Elements Hand? Su Qing’s ultimate technique!"

"The Five Elements Hand—rumor has it its full power can refine the stars, suppress all demons with a single palm! If Su Qing perfects this skill, she could surely attain the rank of Immortal King!"

"Cloud Veil Immortal Hall is truly remarkable! First, Yu Yang with his unparalleled talent, reaching the Golden Immortal stage at four hundred years old; now Su Qing and Zhou Hao stunning everyone. The Hall is destined to rise, filled with outstanding talents!"

Su Qing stood silently in the center, her white robes billowing, her immortal beauty like a figure stepping out of a painting. In stark contrast, Arrow Maple lay prone, his back exposed and bloody where his garments had been torn.

“Battle concluded. Su Qing is the victor!” announced the sixteen hall masters from the clouds above.

Under countless reverent gazes, Su Qing left the center of the Ascension Platform, her steps light as she soared in a blink toward the Cloud Veil Hall disciples.

"Elder Yun Fang, how is Zhou Hao? Are his injuries severe?" Yu Nan waited by Zhou Hao’s side, watching anxiously as Yun Fang tended to him. Her eyes were red—clearly, she had been crying.

Though Yu Nan once loathed Yun Fang, since confessing her feelings to Zhou Hao, his continued encouragement and their shared ordeal with the Night Palace had erased her resentment.

"He’s taken a Fuling Pill already. With my assistance to restore his immortal power, he’ll recover to peak condition within an hour—no need to worry," Yun Fang replied.

Hearing this, the surrounding Cloud Veil disciples rejoiced. Su Qing visibly relaxed, concern shining in her autumn-water eyes.

Yu Nan rubbed the corner of her eye, murmuring, "That’s good... that’s good."

"Senior Sister, you treat Zhou Hao so well—better than me! I’m almost jealous," Xiao Shanshan teased, her big black eyes twinkling mischievously.

"You silly girl, what do you know? Haven’t you heard adults talk—children shouldn’t butt in," Cao Shuang chided, adopting the tone of one educating a child.

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"Humph! You... you..." Xiao Shanshan pouted, her face cycling between blue and white. Her little hand pointed at Cao Shuang, unable to find words, looking adorably flustered.

"What, unhappy to be called young? I wish I were decades younger! Youth is wonderful—beautiful love, an unregretful youth," Cao Shuang folded his arms, feigning profound wisdom.

"Pfah! You fatso, calling me a little girl—you're the little girl, your whole family are little girls! You want beautiful love? Unregretful youth? Keep dreaming!" Xiao Shanshan, always at Yu Nan’s side, had picked up her temper. Naturally, she was incensed by Cao Shuang’s remarks.

"You really are... impossible! I’m only trying to teach you, why don’t you appreciate my good intentions?" Cao Shuang sighed, looking misunderstood.

"Teach me? Looks like you need a lesson yourself!" Xiao Shanshan brandished a small pink fist.

"Hit me? You think you can?" Cao Shuang laughed outright.

"Look down on me? Didn’t you lose in the sixty-person round-robin too? What makes you qualified to look down on me?" Xiao Shanshan retorted.

"Fine, fine, though I generally don’t hit women, you’re just a little girl, so it doesn’t count. Besides, it’s not hitting—it’s teaching!" Cao Shuang justified himself grandly.

"Let’s hope your skills outnumber your words!" Xiao Shanshan shot back.

At once, the little sprite and the plump figure began sparring, while the others watched helplessly as these two clowns put on their show...

Meanwhile, atop the Ascension Platform.

The battle between Cai Lingzi and Xin Nan of the Crimson Flame Hall was nearing its end, equally spectacular.

It bears mention that Xin Nan was the prized disciple of Elder Chi Yuan, his cultivation and strength among the best of the sixteen halls.

"Eight Fiend Fire God Technique!"

Xin Nan, clad in crimson armor now ragged and bloodstained, looked tragic and fierce. In this duel, he had not once injured Cai Lingzi; instead, she had left him battered and bruised. Furious, he decided to unleash his most powerful immortal art for a decisive victory.

Roar!

Xin Nan summoned eight scarlet banners, each a meter tall, inscribed with vivid beast markings. The creatures snarled and clawed, faces twisted in rage, their roars thunderous as if about to leap forth.

"Humph, a beast’s desperate struggle!" Cai Lingzi’s beautiful face was filled with disdain.

She spread her arms as if to take flight, her body transforming—hands becoming wings, feet slender talons, her ornate robes bursting into radiant peacock feathers.

Chirp!

A massive peacock, golden and emerald, appeared, head raised to the heavens, tail trailing five-colored divine light. The sky was awash with color, a spectacle so grand all were awed by the immortal peacock’s splendor.

Xin Nan’s Eight Fiend Fire God Technique dominated half the sky, the eight banners spewing blazing flames that stained the heavens red. Eight fiery beasts surged forth, entirely formed from fire, advancing upon the peacock.

The beasts, wreathed in flames capable of boiling seas and burning mountains, trod upon the sky like moving clouds of fire, painting the heavens crimson. The peacock shone with rainbow light, as if countless arcs illuminated the sky. The entire sky became a world of color, day and night indistinguishable, sun and moon obscured.

Boom!

The collision was earth-shattering, beast roars and bird cries echoing as colored lights devoured each other, vying for dominance.

Yet the clash did not last long. The giant peacock seized the advantage, sweeping through the eight fiery beasts, its radiant light restoring them to mere flames. The peacock feathers, like a volley of arrows, erased every trace of crimson fire from the sky.

"Impossible!"

Xin Nan’s eyes bulged in despair as the peacock soared above him, blanketing the domain of the Eight Fiend Fire God Technique. In a blink, the banners turned to ash, and Xin Nan was pierced through the chest by a peacock’s talon.

"My disciple!"

Elder Chi Yuan cried out, his eyes bloodshot. He had never expected Cai Lingzi to strike a fatal blow. Hot-tempered as he was, he rushed to attack.

"Chi Yuan! Calm yourself!" A voice of authority resounded in his mind. He turned sharply to the clouds, where the sixteen hall masters presided.

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Crimson Flame Hall Master!

"Chi Yuan, I understand your grief, but you cannot attack the Color Hall!" the Crimson Flame Hall Master sent mentally.

"Why? My beloved disciple has been slain. How can I watch helplessly?" Chi Yuan raged inwardly.

"Because... we cannot afford to provoke the Color Hall Master," his counterpart sighed.

Among the sixteen figures seated in the clouds, one drew particular attention. Though he sat to the far left, he was a source of dread for the other fifteen hall masters.

He wore robes of five-colored brocade, his hair completely white yet translucent. His face, unlike the others, was ageless and so beautiful that even maidens would pale in comparison—a true vision of beauty with white hair.

Color Hall Master!

His true form was the Five-Colored Peacock, his age counted in tens of thousands of years—a measure of his strength. He sat with closed eyes, resting, and had done so since the tournament began, as if utterly indifferent to the proceedings.

Chi Yuan glared fiercely at the Color Hall Master, but finally unclenched his fist. He watched the distant red figure drop onto the Ascension Platform like a severed kite, his heart bleeding.

A disciple nurtured for centuries—gone, just like that?

"Wasted so much of my time. Well, I’ll take this as compensation." Cai Lingzi, reverting to human form, landed in the center of the platform. In her hand was a fist-sized, still-beating heart, bloodied and trembling.

Howl! To the astonishment of all, Cai Lingzi tilted her head and placed the heart in her mouth!

In an instant, the crowd exploded.

"Heavens, Cai Lingzi ate Xin Nan’s heart!"

"I... I’m shocked—killing and eating the heart? Such brutality beneath a beautiful exterior!"

"Peacocks eat people! Did I just see that?"

In the clouds, all fifteen hall masters changed color, especially the Crimson Flame Hall Master, whose gaze grew frigid. Yet he said nothing, knowing that to kill Cai Lingzi would make the Color Hall Master an implacable enemy. War between the halls would be inevitable, the consequences catastrophic and irreparable—so severe that the Crimson Flame Hall Master could not bear them.

History had seen more than one war between the immortal halls, and those involving the Color Hall had ended in victory and utter destruction of the opposing side—except for sparing the hall master, all others were eradicated.

Such was the fearsome reputation of the Color Hall.

Curiously, the Color Hall never vied for the top position, and in ordinary times, was amicable and carefree. Most conflicts arose from their members’ capriciousness, leading to disputes that they resolved ruthlessly, death being commonplace.

Now, with Xin Nan slain, few dared voice protest—only Chi Yuan, as his master, was left distraught.

"I declare the battle over. Cai Lingzi is the victor," the Crimson Flame Hall Master announced, simply stating the result.

Whizz!

As the words fell, Chi Yuan transformed into a stream of light, rushing to Xin Nan’s corpse.

The chest wound shone through, and Xin Nan’s stunned eyes were still open as he lay stiffly upon the cold white cloud platform, soaking in his own blood.

"Disciple, rest in peace. Your master will take you home."

Chi Yuan took a deep breath, tears unshed, but his trembling hand revealed the depth of his sorrow.

At last, his hand descended upon Xin Nan’s eyes, slowly closing them...

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